“I’ll try not to break it,” she says quietly, one hand stroking my chest where my heart beats. I know she can feel it race. My heart always seems to know when Saige is in range and speeds up. It’s not something I can help. It’s just a bodily response to a beautiful and funny and sexy woman. My biological need to mate and continue the species.

“You have a good heart, Quinn.” I don’t want to talk about my heart. Or her heart. Or anyone’s heart getting twisted and wrapped up in this game.

One thing is for sure, when this job is over I’m going to have to leave. I can’t stay in the same city with Saige and risk running into her. I just… I couldn’t do it.

“Do you want to get dessert, or go back to the hotel?” I ask, trying to make my voice even.

“I think I’d like to go back to the hotel and maybe have dessert in bed. The eating and the naked kind.” She pulls back from me and I let go of her.

“I’d like that too.”

I pay the check and tuck her under my arm as we walk back out to the waiting car.

“This has been a fabulous night, Quinn. Absolutely fabulous.”

“Memorable?” I ask.

“Definitely. And it’s not over yet.”

Seventeen

Saige and I head back to the hotel and order all the desserts from the room service menu. They must think we’re having a party because they send up enough place settings for six people.

“We’re never going to eat all this,” Saige says, gesturing to the cart they’ve left us. There’s cake and tiramisu and bread pudding and cheesecake and key lime pie. It all looks spectacular and we definitely can’t eat it all. I don’t care. That’s not what this night is about.

I just hand her a fork and get one for myself. We’ve changed out of our fancy dinner outfits and put on the soft robes I found in the closet.

“What do you want first?” I ask as she scans the cart.

“Red velvet cake. Always,” she says, grabbing the plate. “And I’m not sharing.”

“That’s fine,” I say, going for the key lime pie. Yet another thing that reminds me of my mother. I used to be so good at putting her out of my head. I’d go days without thinking of her, but it seems like every moment with Saige is locked into a memory. I shake my head. I think I’m losing it. Maybe I need a vacation. Or maybe I just need to suck it up and get back to work.

Row has been on duty tonight and I hope he’s enjoying his overnight stay in the hotel. Baz is outside in a car and I’m pretty sure he’s pissed about it. But the mysterious texter hasn’t sent me any more messages or pictures.

Saige and I clink our forks together and start eating the desserts. She polishes off the entire piece of cake and then goes for the bread pudding.

“I know we just ate dinner, but somehow, I still have room for this,” she says, looking fondly at the plates.

“I think it has something to do with science. Not quite sure though.” She sticks her tongue out at me and then pops another bite of bread pudding into her mouth. We end up trading plates and eating almost half the desserts.

“Oh my God, I don’t think I can move,” she says, flopping back on the bed and folding her hands on her stomach. “I think I’m going to regret this later, but I don’t care.” I lay back next to her.

“Dessert is meant to be enjoyed. If not now, when?” She laughs softly.

“I like that.” She rolls over onto her stomach and props herself up on her elbows.

“I don't think I’m going to be able to do the other kind of dessert for a while. It just doesn’t seem like a good idea to move around with all this cake inside me. We probably should have thought of that ahead of time.” Probably. But I’m not opposed to waiting a little while. I’m also in no shape to fuck, no matter what my cock thinks. Maybe if she were on top.

“That’s fine. I think I need a little down time as well.”

“Watch a movie?” she says, grabbing the remote and turning on the television.

“As long as it’s not of the X-rated kind. My body might not be ready for action, but he doesn’t care about that.” I point to my cock.

Saige giggles.

“Well, no porn then. Got it. Are you opposed to romantic movies?”

“Not in theory, but it depends on the movie.” She flips through the channels, bypassing the sports networks and news channels.

“No way, I do not want to cry tonight,” she says after watching a few seconds of a movie. I have no idea what it is and no idea how she knew just from watching a tiny bit of it.

“You ever watched Game of Thrones?” she says, stopping again.

“No, sorry.” I don’t watch a whole lot of TV and I don’t have cable.

“Damn. You’re missing out. We’ll have to marathon it sometime. You can’t not see that show. What about Spinal Tap?” I shrug. I’ve never seen that either.

“Jesus, what have you seen, other than Hitchcock?”

“Not much.”

“Oh!” she says sitting up and exclaiming. “This is what we’re watching.”

“What is it?” I ask as the movie starts. Somehow we’ve timed it just right so it’s just starting.

“My Big Fat Greek Wedding. It’s hilarious. You’ll love it.” I’ve never seen the movie, but I’ve heard of it at least. Saige shifts and turns over on her stomach. Instead of watching the screen, I’m watching her as she stares at the television.

“You’re not paying attention,” she says without looking away.

“Sorry,” I say, looking back at the screen.

Saige is animated as she watches, laughing freely at the jokes she knows are coming. I have to admit that I get sucked into the movie, even if I can’t really relate. Funny is funny and this movie is funny. I laugh more than a few times, especially when Ian meets Tula’s family and she tells them he’s a vegetarian.

“I love this movie,” Saige says as Tula and her new husband dance at their reception.

“It’s good. I’m glad you made me watch it.”

“So if you don’t watch movies, what do you do in your spare time, Quinn Brand?” Not much. Work out. Take walks. Spend time with Cash. Sleep. My existence outside of my job isn’t much. It isn’t really a life. But I can’t tell her that.

“This and that.” I hope she’s going to drop the subject.

“No, really,” she says, sitting up and turning her focus back on me again. Shit. “I want to know about your life. What you do when you’re not hanging out with me.” She smiles and touches my shoulder playfully.

“Well, I read and play video games and run and so forth. The usual stuff.”

“What was the last book you read?” This is an easy question, because I do read every now and then.

“The Stand by Stephen King. One of his best, in my opinion.”

She raises her eyebrows as if this surprises her.

“What?”

“Nothing. What book did you read before that one?” Redhead, this entire thing is a test that I know I can pass.

“Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.” That makes her smile.

“Interesting selection.” I decide to turn this around on her.

“What were the last two books you read? Other than school books.” I feel like I have to clarify. She holds up one finger.

“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and,” she holds up another finger “Gone Girl.”

“Really?”

“Really. Guess we have the same taste in books.”

“Go figure,” I say.

“But I won’t say no to fantasy or a good historical romance. And you can’t beat Harry Potter.”

“Never read those,” I say and she looks at me as if I’ve used the dirtiest curse word in existence.

“What is wrong with you?” A whole lot of things that you will never know about, Saige. “How can you be a human being and not have read Harry Potter?” I shrug again. I seem to be doing that a lot tonight.

“Well, get yourself to a library, Mr. Brand, or snatch one from a kid. I’d lend you mine, but I don’t lend my books to anyone. They’re never allowed to leave my apartment unless they’re in my custody.” That’s… kind of cute.